St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-12-10
SWEET VIOLETS.

OVEEl N1O1U1O
How NJ. Whiskers was Cured ol
His Silly Infatuation.
-'Swe-e-et V-i-o-o-lets! rSwcetcr than
all the R-O-o-O-sesr'
He did not sing it loud. He was
afraid his wife would bear. But all the
time that Mr.. Billydoo Whiskers had
been putting on his snowy shirt. tieing
his white necktie with the most degaSe
accuracy. donning his low vest, assum-
ing his silk-lined swallowtail and cast
ing languorous suspicion of Lilas de
Perse on his handkerchief which,
swce. thought, her own delicate fingers
had embroidered for hint was a
falsehood in silk. for she had made her
maid do it-all this time Mr.. Whiskers
!. - been humming. softly and tendcrly.
that wonderful song which has caused
the death of more organ grinders the
decay of more minstrels. the souring
of more milk. and the upsetting of more
weak minds than any other mass meet
ing of argumentcd half notes in the
whole literature Of cong. When he
was finally done aud had completely
transformed himself from . broker in
tweed to an Adonis in broadcloth. he
cast at the Adonis in the mirror deep.
languishing. soulful glance, that would
have turned the head of any female
statue on pivot. and. in fact apprised
the jealous Parian Diving Girl on the
mantcl. who was watching him mar
rowly. that Mr.. Whiskers was deeply.
very deeply in love.
With smile on his face of self-ad-
mirstion that he could not entirely re-
press he tripped down stairs to the
sitting room. whore sweet. calnl-faced
little woman sat somewhat idly reading
the evening paper. She looked up and.
being his wife. took in the whole situa-
ton at a glance.
"Going out. dcar?" said she pleas
antly.
.Yes. Little spread at the club. I'll
be home early. Ta-ta, dear" he said.
airily. 4.
She smiled pleasantly and he went
ont and away. - -
As soon as the hall door closed she
looked straight ahead Of her for some
time. Then she leaned her chin on n
plump. pretty little hand. her elbow
resting on the table, and fell into deep
thought. Her face was sad. She had
much more strength and much more
common sense than the average woman.
But they had been married ten years
and her husband had gotten used to
her. She knew quite well that at heart
he loved her. She understood how the
Violet in the case. Mrs. Violet "a
society widow, had aroused in him an
infatuation which had caused him to
make fool Of himself in pronounced
attentions Of the silliest character. She
knew perfectly well that this Violet
was a. cold as she was beautiful. and
that her narrow conception Of life made
the handling of men through their
weakness worthy ambition. But
under her calmness the little wife was
both deeply hurt and judiciously angry.
Her husband was being talked about to
his discredit That wounded her more
than his neglect of herself. She thought
. long time and then rang the bell
James O'Mcara. the butler. had
quickness Of perception that his Irish
eyes made it impossible to conceal. He
was an old and tried servant He
knew the situation perfectly and was
much disturbed at it. for he had .
genuine and warm admiration for his
mistress. She knew that he knew, and
she consequently had determined to
utilize him. She did not discuss the
situation but she gave certain orders.
1t took long time. Despite his dignity
James OMeara very often smiled. At
one time he burst out laughing. but
immediately begged her pardon. She
did not smile. Neither did she frown.
She was very quiet and business-like
during the whole talk. Then she went
quietly to bed.
The next day Mr.. O'Meara was very
busy. He was gone from the house for
hours He could have been seen in
quarters of the city where . fashiona-
bic butler never was seen before. talk
ing to people for whom il would seem
fashionable butler has no sort Of use
1he next day something happened
down town which was . little unusual.
Mr.. Whiskers' Office was in New
street, not very far from that yell
foundry where men below at each
other for long timo and then quietly
sell to one another some stock. Il was
nice Office on the first floor, the pri-
vate ONCE having a window opening
about ten feet above the street Shortly
after the adjournment of IL morning
board. Just as Mr.. Whiskers was deeply
engaged in discussing heavy transac-
tion with client. the soft tweedle-
decide of hand organ Aostsd il isou